Outcast Terry faces England ban

John Terry will face at least three years in the international wilderness if found guilty of assault charges. This follows the precedent set by Sven-Goran Eriksson in omitting Leeds star Jonathan Woodgate from the World Cup.

Woodgate, who served 100 hours of community service after being convicted of affray following the beating of Asian student Sarfraz Najeib, has been left out of the England squad to play Italy in Leeds on Wednesday.

Eriksson said it was a tough decision, but the England coach felt that had he picked Woodgate, it would have cut across a ruling that English fans can be banned from the official supporters' club for up to three years following a public order conviction.

Woodgate is likely to be be considered again next season, but his World Cup hopes, together with those of team-mate Lee Bowyer, are over.

Terry, meanwhile, considered by many to be a certainty for senior international honours, faces charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, assault and affray, following an incident at a London nightclub on 4 January.

Eriksson will be criticised heavily in some quarters for deciding to omit Woodgate, and the England coach admitted it was likely that he would have selected the young Leeds defender on ability alone.

The ruling regarding England fans put him and the FA in a difficult position. Another consideration was the likely disruption to Eriksson's plans caused by mass protests, had he picked him.

Eriksson said: "Whatever we had done, people would have criticised us. In England, there are rules for the fans to try to make the image of English football much better, especially abroad. In my job, I have to support that."

Meanwhile, Terry will return to action for Chelsea tonight after six weeks out with a broken bone in his foot. He is due to play in the reserves game against West Ham at Aldershot.